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Community-Supported News. Free to all.
VOL. 10, NO. 25
29
MAY 1, 2025
LCPS Bucks Federal Push to Certify DEI Scrub BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org
Loudoun County Public Schools Superintendent Aaron Spence announced last week that the division would not comply with a federal requirement to file an additional certification affirming it does not employ certain diversity, equity and inclusion practices. In an April 24 announcement, Spence wrote that the division complies with all state and federal civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination based on an individual’s race, color or national origin. However, he said, the required certification referenced “illegal DEI” or “certain DEI practices” that, he said, were not clearly defined. Failing to file the additional certification puts the division at risk of losing federal funding, according to the request made by the U.S. Department of Education. In fiscal year 2026, the adopted school budget includes $48 million in federal funding, including $3 million for operations, $24.6 million in grants and $20.5 million for nutrition programs. Spence’s April 24 announcement came on the same day as a Federal District Court judge in New York DEI continues on page 42
Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now
Supervisor Caleb Kershner (R-Catoctin) stands in front of an old, Quaker-built home on a 17-acre parcel that he operates as an Airbnb near Hamilton.
Balancing the Future of Western Loudoun BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org
As county leaders work to revise the zoning standards for western and rural Loudoun, a balancing challenge has emerged – one with a common goal to preserve western Loudoun – but with dif-
fering pathways to get there. Those differences were brought to the surface during the third stakeholder meeting hosted by the Board of Supervisors’ Transportation and Land Use Committee on the zoning amendment process last week. The panel has held two prior meetings
tackling rules of stables, outdoor recreation, agricultural processing, tenant housing and farm-related lodging last November and in January. The April 22 meeting focused on agritourism, recreWESTERN LOUDOUN continues on page 39
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